One year and counting

It was one year ago today that we physically moved from Peakland Place to Hanshill. Hard to believe! The last two weeks I've been trying to keep up with the produce that is maturing in the garden. Then, in the last couple of days, all of a sudden some of the plants seem to be totally spent --- specifically the squash and the roma beans. I think the snap beans are about to breathe their last also --- I might get one more picking.  However the okra, butterbeans, black-eyed peas, kale and cherry tomatoes are still producing. Also we planted beets this year, as an experiment, and we are soon going to dig them up and see if they are any good.

Butterbeans drive me crazy! They are delicious but they sure are a lot of work!  The worst part is the picking ---- it really is a strain on the back and hips.

This weekend I picked enough to freeze 8 meals, plus we ate them last night super-fresh.  Brad helped me shell them. But let me tell you, Brad does so many other things. Yesterday, he mowed the entire property, a 3-hour job. These photos show just less than half of what we picked this weekend.

The photo below shows the "harvest" from my picking on Saturday (Sept. 8). Two hours of picking yield tons of butterbeans, some okra, some squash, kale, cherry tomatoes, and a few roma beans. With a few flowers mixed in, picked in the front yard, it all looks very pretty.

On another front, a couple of years ago, Brad dug up many, many spider lilies from the woods. We knew they were originally planted by Murnie. Because they now existed in a shady place, I was thinking they prefer shade. But I was probably wrong (it pains me to say it, but the older I get, the more often I find that I am wrong!!).  Anyway we divided and re-planted many of these bulbs, in shady wooded areas. And none of them came up and bloomed!!!  Well, the most recent issue of Southern Living has an article about spider lilies. It says that they like sun, and also that you should plant them very shallow in the soil. Well, we planted ours in the shade, and probably too deep!  So now we realize the problem. Of the many we re-planted, ONE has come up this year!  It's pretty, but I wish more of its siblings would appear!

On Friday night this week, Brad invited me to have supper at the pond. It was a cheap date night, but very enjoyable. We didn't pull out a pretty tablecloth like the times when we have Mama to supper, but neverthless we had a good meal. Faith and Freckles seemed to relax!

It's been a wonderful year. Age has a way of creeping up on each one of us. I sincerely hope and pray that Brad and I will live in this home longer than we did in any other place in our marriage. We love Hanshill, and we love being the current temporary stewards of this special place. We particularly love it when family is here to continue the legacy ------ to share our inherited appreciation for the blessings of this place. Over Labor Day weekend, there was a wonderful family gathering here ---- 31 people!  I've not seen any photos of those of my generation from that evening, except of Brad. On Facebook there were pictures of Anne and David's 9 grandchildren, and Nannie (Mama) also was captured. I realized that I was the second oldest person in attendance. I will include a couple of photos from that evening that I pulled from Facebook.  This post sends love to ALL of our family, to ALL of those who love Hanshill. Please visit ANY TIME!!!!
Here's a somewhat classic shot, with the man of the house feeding the cows. Love my Brad!!

Joseph found a snake!! Good times for adventuresome boys!

 Eddie and Nannie are talking politics!! So funny.

Here's one of Nannie with the absolutely newest member of the family, Eleanor Claire Smith (Ella). So precious! Ella was 30 days old!

All of the Simms little people were here with us for supper. Anne and David have 9 beautiful grandchildren!!

When I talk about Hanshill, and stewardship, and tradition, this final picture helps to convey some of what I am saying. Timeless!